Selecting and controlling mechanism for movable parts



Sept. 29, 1953 o. J. J. BRACKE ETAL 2,653,486 SELECTING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MOVABLE PARTS Filed Jan. 17, 1951 sheets-sheet 1 650.66: xaws orme Lamar/Mmmm ax W) ttomey Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES 2,653,485 fnTENT OFFICE SELECTING AND CONTROLLING MECH- ANISM FOR MOVABLE PARTS' werp, Belgium,

assignors to International- Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N. Y., a` corporation ofA Delaware Application January 17, 1951, Serial No. 206,498v In Belgium January 17, 1950 (Cl. 'i4-471) 10 Claims. l,

The present invention relates to a mechanism for theV selection and control of movable parts whichcan, in particular, be used for the control of crossbar apparatus. More particularly, the invention provides novel means for the selection andoperationof the-soecalled vertical bars which are used in multi-switches ofthe crossbar type.

An object of the inventionresides in a selecting andI controlling mechanism for movable parts, each of said part or partsbeing under the control of clutch means which are themselves controlled by selectionA means, the actuation of these selection means havingy the ei'lect oi lcausing the displacement of'v said clutch means associated therewith' in order to place said clutch means under the control ofl common control means?, which; when actuated, drives by means of said clutch means, the selected movable part or partswhich are' associated therewith;

A :further object of the invention' resides in theffact that the selection means comprise a plu:- ralityiof code-bars'suchv as disclosed in the Belgian Patent No. 4243561* whichA canbey actuated in a plurality of different combinations, each particular combination resulting inthe operation of one particular selection lever correspondin'gto that particular combination, whichl will in4 turn actuate the clutchmeans.

A feature of the inventionL resides. in clutch means which arev constituted byl a small independent member guided in Xed parts and `which isnormally under the control of a selection lever, which; when actuated, will'place said independent'clutbh'member'under'the control of common control means. y

Another feature of theinvention resides in an intermediatelever mechanically related to a corresponding movable part and'which will bev actuated bysaid common control meansl by means of` saidindependent' clutch member.

Another feature of" the inventionl resides-` in common control means which are constituted by ajcommon control bar provided with a series of'iteeth along one Mits-longitudinal edges, each of which may engage itsycorrespondent independent clutch member' when saidcommon control bar is actuated and provided the* corresponding selection' lever has been` actuated;

Another feature of" the invention resides in said? teethbeing provided with grooved ends whereby said independent' clutch member, once ityis engaged by said tooth will beheld between the" latter andsaid intermediatev lever, whereby said: selection levery is no longer necessary to maintain said independent clutch member under 2 the control of said common control bar, and? can be released'.

Another feature of the invention residesin the fact thatV said independent clutch member is constituted by a ball'.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rst channel in which said ball is guided when it' is displaced under the controlv of the selection lever and of a second channel, perpendicular to-the rst, in which said ball is guided when itis` further displaced under the controler the common control bar.

Another feature of the invention resides in a'- iixed part comprising a central plate fixed perpendicularly to mainbase-plate; and' two' profiledparts having a U-shaped crosssection-fixed by one ofv their iaces cnboth sides of said cen'- tral plate, the three adjacent central sides belonging' to the centrali plate and to both profiled parts being provided. with aI slot in which said ballcan be-guidedwhen it is displacedby the selection lever, further slots being provided in the eXternalfaces-of said profiled parts'in order to permit on the one hand theA insertion of' a toothof the 'common control bar and on the other hand, of one end'of the intermediate lever, thereby allowing a further guided displacement of said balli under the control of the common control bar, said ball inturn actuating said intermediate lever.

Another ifeatureof the invention resides-inthe displacement of said common control bar along its main plane and perpendicularly to its longitudinal edges.

Another feature of the invention residesin the fact that said selection lever is directly actuated by saidicode bars.

Another characteristic of the invention resides inthe fact that each offsaid-selection levers is provided with two actuating arms located on both sides of the code bars and that two common control'bars are also providedon bothsides of the code bars, whereby by utilizing twolintermediate leversv symmetrically located on both sides of the codebarsforf each of saidselection levers,- an arrangement for the actuationoftwo movable parts Willbe provided which will occupyA aminimum amount' ofspace. n

Other features andobjects-of the present invention will appear from the following descriptiono an embodiment, given as anon-limitative example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the arrangement, parts having been cutaway in order` to show more clearly some of the mechanical details;

Fig. 2 represents a cross-sectional side view of the mechanism in its normal position;

Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectional side view of the mechanism in its clutch position;

Fig. 4 represents a cross-sectional side view of the mechanism in its actuated position;

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of part of the code bar arrangement Yincluding a selection lever the code bars and selection lever turned upside down.

rlhe main parts of the mechanism shown on Fig. 1 will be first of all briefly described.

This selecting and controlling mechanism may be adapted to the selection and control of the vertical movable bars pertaining to the arrangement described in my U. S. Patent No. 2,589,267, granted on March 18, 1952.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, it should be noted that onli one selection and control mechanism has been shown on Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that the arrangement comprises a set of two vertical bars I and I which can be actuated by their respective intermediate levers 2 and 2' and which are operatively positioned in a iirst plane and only the lirst of which being completely shown. A set of iive code bars 3, d, 3, 6 and 'I, operatively positioned for movement in a second plane, has been partially shown together with a single selection lever 3 corresponding to the two intermediate levers 2 and 2. A periodically-operated common control bar 3 has also been partially shown with two of its teeth I and I located along one of its longitudinal edges. These teeth will be used to drive the independent clutch member, which has been represented by ball II, when the latter has been displaced under the control of the arm I2 of the clutch-actuating lever 8, said arm corresponding with the intermediatelever 2 which will be displaced by the common control bar 9 by means of said ball I I.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Considering first of all Figs. l, 2 and 5, representing the mechanism in the rest position and more particularly Fig. 5, it will be seen that the latter represents part of a set of ve code bars 3, il, 5, and l which can be operated in a plurality of diierent combinations in the direction of the arrow f1. It should be noted, however, that in order to show an adequate view of the lever 3, the code bars such as 3 as well as the lever 3 have been turned upside down.

Assuming that code bar flfis shifted in the direction of the arrow f1, it will be seen that the slot i3 provided in the code bar 3 will come in the same line as the slots I3, I4, I5 and I6 respectively provided in the code bars 3, 5, 6 and 1, provided of course the latter code bars are left in their normal position.

The selection lever B is hinged in two ilxed pieces 'I and Il', only the rst of which I'I, being shown on Fig, 1. are provided with a small rectangular opening such as I3 in which lugs I9 and I9' provided at both ends of lthe arm of the selection lever 3 are inserted. Accordingly, the openings such as I8 will provide fulcrums for the selection lever 8.

Consequently, when the code bar 4 has been shifted in the direction of the arrow f1, the remaining code bars 3, 4, 5,-and 1, remaining in These iixed pieces I'I and IIV the position shown on Fig. 5, the selection lever 8 and more particularly the bent part 2l of its arm 22 will be moved under the action of the two springs 23 and 23', in the various slots 33, I3, Ill, I5 and I6 provided in the code bars ll, 3, 5, 6 and 'I. Each of the springs such as 23 is hooked at one end 2li to the corresponding end of the arm 22 of the selection lever 8 in a small hole 25, and at the other end 26 in a small hole provided in the main frame holding the code bar arrangement (Fig. 2).

The selection lever 8 will thus rotate about its fulcrums such as I8 and in so doing 'will lift the ball I I which is normally resting on the bent end 2'I of the arm i2 of the selection lever 8.

Considering the movement of the ball Ii under the action of the selection lever 8 and referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the complete mechanism is nxed to a main base plate 28 by means'of a U-shaped part 2S, the two vertical branches of which 33 and 3G are spaced suiciently apart in order to provide room for the code bar arrangement and the selection levers such as 8, as well as the intermediate levers such as 2. On each face of the vertical branches such as 3U are xed two proiiled parts such as 3l and 32. The proled parts SI, SI and 32, 32' have also a U-shaped cross section but the distance between both branches is much smaller so as to aord guidance for the ball I I.

As will be seen from Figs. l and 2, the external branch of the profiled part 3I is provided with a small opening 33 in which the grooved end 32 of the tooth I3 can be inserted. Also, as shown on Fig. 2, the external 'branch of the proled part 32 is provided with an elongated slot 35 in which the arm 36 of the intermediate lever 2 can be inserted. The interna1 branch of the proiiled part 32 isalso provided with an elongated slot 3l into which the bent end 33 of the arm 36 of the intermediate lever can project. The slots 35 and 31 also permit the bent end 2'I to the arm I2 of the selection lever 8 to be inserted via both pronled parts 3l, 32 and the vertical part 33 in order to control the ball I I. On the other hand, the lower end of the slot 3'! is so shaped as to prevent the withdrawal of the ball I I in the right-hand direction (Fig. 2). Although a certain amount of play in the horizontal direction has been secured for the ball II, it will always remain guided by the slot 39 provided in the interna1 face of the proiiled part 3| and in the vertical plate 39, and in the normal position of the selection lever 8, it,

will always be under the control of the bent end 2 of its arm I2.

As soon as the selection lever 8 has been actuated, the ball II will 'be lifted in the direction of the arrows fz and it will now come onto the level of the tooth I associated with the common control bar 9 and the bent end 38 of the arm 33 of the intermediate lever 2. This position is shown on Fig. 3.

It should be noted that when the selection lever 8 is actuated, both its arms I2 and I2' will be lifted under the action of the springs 23 and 23 and accordingly, the bent ends 2 and 21 will lift both balls II and II'.

The mechanism shown on Fig. 3 is now in the clutch position and accordingly when the common control bar 9 is displaced in the direction of the arrow f3, the tooth Ii? pertaining to that common control bar 9 and more particularly the grooved end 32 thereof will contact the ball II and will exert by means of this ball a thrust on the bent end 38 of the lever 2. The lever 2 .said .slot '41. Vhooked in the :proled part BI being .hooked to the vertical part 30 by Vmeans .of

.its lug 40 .inserted in a'corresponding opening'dfl provided .in said Vvertical part 30 `will -rotate .in lthe direction of the arrow f4 and by means of a bent lug 42 provided on its-arm 4:3 will lift the vertical barl in the .direction of thearrowjs, the

rounded bottom end 44 of .said bar I, normally restingzon -said'bent lug '42 under its own `weight or any appropriate resilient .device (not shown). A `restoring spring .such as 45 has been hooked in a slot 46 provided at the end ofthe arm '3 Accordingly, ias soon .asthe force whichcaused the operation oi "the common .control bar 9 is withdrawn, the intermediate lever 2 will rotate back .to its original position, asshown on Figs. 2 and 3, under the combined action of the 'vertical bar I andthe restoring .spring 45. In -so doing, the ball II `will .be returned to theposition shown on Fig. 3 and `willloe returned toits original lowered position shown on Fig. :2 when the selection lever 8 has lbeen brought back to the normal position as shown in Fig. 5.

.fAn important advantage of the use of the grooved end 34 for the tooth [3 is that, 'as -soon as the common control bar 9 has engagedtheball II, the latter will be maintained between said grooved end 34 of tlietooth IG and thebentend 38 of the intermediate lever 2. lIn this manner, it will be appreciated that the selection lever S no longer plays any part in the control of the Vball vII and 'can immediately bereleased .after Iaccordingly further selections can immediately be proceeded with, "i, e. .another .selection .lever vsuch' as 8 can immediately be operated to prepare the operation of another vertical bar such as I.

The above description has referred to the operation oi the vertical bar I. It will be clearly seen, however, that the operation of the vertical bar I is performed along identical lines, but this time the common control bar 9 (not shown), corresponding to 9, will be used, as well as the intermediate lever 2 which has been partially shown.

It will be understood that the intermediate levers 2 and 2 have been designed and interleaved in such a manner that the combined arrangement occupies a minimum amount of space necessary for an adequate operation oi the mechanism.

The present arrangement evidently aords means for the simultaneous operation of the vertical bars such as l and I. Further, although only one set of vertical bars such as I and I has been shown, it will be understood that several sets of vertical bars could have been selected simultaneously or in any order, one of the two control bars, or both at once, simultaneously actuating one or the other of the two vertical bars of the selected sets or both.

Further, additional arms such as I2 could be provided on the selection levers such as 8 in order to place more than two vertical bars in the clutch position by the operation of a single selection lever, provided additional intermediate levers such as 2 are also used.

While the principles of this invention have been described above in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this a6 `descriptionris only :made :b y way fof :example and .not yas a .limitation :on '.t-he scope :of the -invention.

What is-claimed is:

:1. A switching mechanism comprising -ta yiirst member loperatively :positioned for movement .in a Iirst plane, a Aplurality ioi members operatively positioned for vmovement ina'second plane, f actuating means :periodically operated, clutch-ing means .adapted Ain :one position to establish a y.mechanical linkage between .said'actuating-means land said first :member fto Ymove isaid l'member in said flrstplane iuponimovement-of said actuating means Aand in .a normal-second yposition'to'disassociate said actuating vmeans vfrom said first memvher to permit free rmovement .by :said actuating means, .and clutch actuating .means operatively .associated with said .plurality fof members and .adapted to dispiace said clutch lmeans .from said second normal :position to'said yone position upon a predetermined .positional Aagreement between said plurality Vof members.

2. :A switching 'mechanism in accordance with 1claim .1, said clutch actuating means 'including `ently of said clutch "actuating means.

3. Aswitching .mechanism'in accordance with claim 1, further comprising'anzextensionfor said clutch actuating means, :said .clutching means including a ball resting on said extension when Asaid clutchingmeans is in said secondvposition.

`4. Aswitching mechanism in accordance with claim 3, further comprising means -associated with .said member actuating means adapted to retain said .ball Whensaid clutching means is in .said rst position and-.saidmember actuating means is in operated position.

5. A switching mechanism .inaccordance .with claim 4, said clutching means including an intermediary lever having one end spaced from and in juxtaposition with said ball retaining means associated with said member actuating means and the other end bearing against said rst member, said ball being interposed between said member actuating means and said one end to form a mechanical link therebetween when said clutching means is in said first position.

6. A switching mechanism in accordance with claim 5 in which said member actuating means comprises a control bar common to a plurality of switching mechanisms, a plurality of projections along one edge of said bar, each of said projections being co-openatively arranged with a particular first member clutching means and associated clutch actuating mechanism.

'7. A switching mechanism in accordance with claim 6, each of said plurality of projections being provided with la grooved end to grip said ball to maintain said ball in said iirst position independently of said clutch actuating means.

8. A switching mechanism in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a guiding channel adapted to guide said ball from the second position to the rst position thereof, and a second guiding channel registering with said iirst channel, said second channel being adapted to guide said ball when said ball is displaced under the control of said member actuating means.

9. A switching mechanism comprising a rst movable member, a second movable member, a reciprocable member for selectively effecting movement of said iirst member, clutching mechanism including a freely movable member, said movable member having a normal position wherein said reciprocable member is ineffective to. cause movement of said rst member, :said freely movable member having an operative iposition wherein it is engageable by said reciprocable member, 1a mechanical link including said Ifreely movable member When said last named imember is in its operative position for actuat- Jing said first member upon movements of said lreciprocable member displacing said freely movable member, clutch actuating means responsive 'to a predetermined position of said second mov- =able member, a fixed base plate, a central plate txed substantially perpendicular to said base plate, a pair of U-shaped members having one iface affixed to opposite sides of said central plate :and on opposite sides thereof, the opening or" the U extending avvay from said base plate, the outside face of one of the U-shaped members Ihaving an opening for receiving said reciprocable member, slots in the remaining three faces and :said central member Afor receiving said clutch actuating mechanism and for providing a guide .for said freely movable member When displaced from said first to said second position, and slots in the faces attached to said central member and in said central member coextensive With said slot for receiving said recprocable member for guiding said freely movable member during displacement by said reciprocable member.

10. A switching mechanism comprising a pair of first movable members, a plurality of adjacent second movable members each having at least one slot along one edge thereof, an aetnating member for each of said rst members, clutch mechanism associated with each of said rst members `for selectively establishing an operating link between said actuating member and the associated first member, a common clutch actuating mechanism for said clutch mechanisms 8 operatively associated with said plurality of second movable members and responsive to a predetermined positional agreement between the slots of said last named members comprising a pivotally mounted member extending across said members for co-operation with the slots thereof, a pair of clutch actuating arms extending from said pivotally mounted member positioned on opposite sides of said second members; each of said clutch mechanisms comprising en intermediate lever having one end bearing against one of said pair of rst members and a second end in juxtaposed position with respect to one of said rst member actuating members and forming a space therebetween, and a ireely movable member interposable in said space, said freely movable member being normally removed from said space, said clutch actuating arms being adapted to displace said freely movable member of the associated clutch mechanism into said space upon positional agreement between said slots.

MARIA BERTI-IA BRAECKll/IAN, MARTHA ODILLA BRACKE, EDUARD ANTOON MARIE ROOMS, MIGUIR DER GASPARIAN, DIANEv ROUMANIE WILHELMNA BRACKE,

Administrators ofthe estate of Oscar Jean Joseph Bracke, deceased.

GEORGES XAVIER LENS.

References Cited in the i'ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,376,633 Obermaier May 3, 1921 1,650,889 De Florez Nov. 29, 1927 1,804,336 Hardgrove May 5, 1931 1,825,849 Borden Oct. 6, 1931 1,958,574 Handwerk May 15, 1934 

